Can crimper



' June 25, 1963 R. M. LAMBERT CAN CRIMPER Filed oct'. 31, 1960 JNVENTOR. $061597 M. LAMBfQi' 3,095,029 CAN CRllVlPER Robert M. Lambert, 29 Dixie Drive, Raleigh, NC. Filed Oct. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 66,178 2 Claims. (Cl. 153-70) The present invention relates to a device for forming decorative type flower pots from commercially available cans such as are used to contain lard, oil, or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for making a fluted container for plants from a straight walled container.

Another object is to provide a device for crimping the wall of a can which is efiicient in operation, one highly effective in action, and one which is economically practical.

With these objects in mind, the following description of the invention will be apparent to anyone, when considered in view of the attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, showing a can being crimped,

FIGURE 3 is perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a can crimped by the device shown in FIGURE 3.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the device of the present invention consists in a frame having a platform 12 supported at a midpart of the frame 10. A plurality of angularly shaped upright crimping bars 14 are arranged in spaced relation on the platform 12 and each has its lower end connected by a pin 16 to a pair of cars 18 projecting upwardly from the platform 12. Each bar 14 is movable toward and away from "a multi-sided support 20 carried by the platform 12.

A ring 22, mounted on four posts 24, surrounds and engages the bars 14 and moves them toward the support 20 when the posts 24 are raised by the piston rod 26 of a fluid pressure motor or cylinder assembly 28 which is below the platform 12 and supported on a floor surface. The assembly 28 may be either pneumatic or hydraulic.

Another fluid pressure motor or assembly 30 is carried on the upper end of the frame 10 and has its piston rod 32 in axial alignment with the piston rod 26.

The free end of the piston rod 32 carries a mandrel means in the shape of a fluted body or mold 34 having the same number of flutes 36 as there are bars 14.

3,095,029 Patented June 25, 1963 A plate 38 extends over the body or mold 34 and engages the upper end of a can when on the support 20 and when the mold 34 has been inserted through the open upper end of the can, shown in FIGURE 2 and indicated by the numeral 40.

In FIGURE 3, the mold 34' is modified to have flutes 36' ending in rounded portions at their tops. The bars 14' taper at their upper ends so as to cooperate with the flutes 36' to shape the can 40', as shown in FIGURE 4.

The operation of the device is fully apparent. Upon insertion of the mold 34, 34' into .the open top of a can resting on the support 20, by actuating the fluid pressure assembly 30, and raising of the ring 22, 22' by actuation of the fluid pressure assembly 28, the bars 14, 14' crease or crimp the wall of the can 40, 40 to a decorative shape.

While only preferred forms of the invention are shown and described, other embodiments may be made and numerous changes or modifications may be contemplated within the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A can crimper comprising a supporting frame, a stationary can support on said frame, a vertically movable mandrel on the frame overlying the can support having a flat horizontal plate mounted thereon at its end remote from said can support whereby the mandrel may be inserted in a can disposed on said can support and said plate will engage the upper end of said can to thereby effectively clamp the can in a non-movable position, a plurality of crimping bars pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent the can support for swinging movement toward the can and engageable therewith for crimping the same in cooperation with the mandrel, and means for actuating said b a-rs, said means comprising a plurality of vertically slidable posts on the frame, a ring on said posts encircling the bars and slidably engaged therewith for engaging said bars with the can, and driving means operatively connected to the posts for eifecting movement thereof.

2. A can crimper in accordance with claim 1, said mandrel being fluted and said crimping bars being of angular cross-section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,199 Moritz June 30, 1896 1,746,869 Rosenthal Feb. 11, 1930 2,591,439 Koch Apr. 1, 1952 

1. A CAN CRIMPER COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME, A STATIONARY CAN SUPPORT ON SAID FRAME, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE MANDREL ON THE FRAME OVERLYING THE CAN SUPPORT HAVING A FLAT HORIZONTAL PLATE MOUNTED THEREON AT ITS END REMOTE FROM SAID CAN SUPPORT WHEREBY THE MANDREL MAY BE INSERTED IN A CAN DISPOSED ON SAID CAN SUPPORT AND SAID PLATE WILL ENGAGE THE UPPER END OF SAID CAN TO THEREBY EFFECTIVELY CLAMP THE CAN IN A NON-MOVABLE POSITION, A PLURALITY OF CRIMPING BARS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ADJACENT THE CAN SUPPORT FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TOWARD THE CAN AND ENGAGEABLE THEREWITH FOR CRIMPING THE SAME IN COOPERATION WITH THE MANDREL, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID BARS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SLIDABLE POSTS ON THE FRAME, A RING ON SAID POSTS ENCIRCLING THE BARS AND SLIDABLY ENGAGED THEREWITH FOR ENGAGING SAID BARS WITH THE CAN, AND DRIVING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE POSTS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT THEREOF. 